Colonial School District is excited to be taking part in Speak Up 2017! Speak Up is a survey that will help us answer questions, such as:

How are our students using technology for learning in and out of school?

How important is the use of technology to our teachers and parents?

What types of technology would our teachers like, and how would they use it in the classroom?

Do our ideas about technology align the ideas from our students' parents?

The Speak Up survey provides an easy way for students, parents, educators and community members to share their views on technology and learning -- while contributing to a national conversation about educational technology.

Project Tomorrow, a national nonprofit organization, provides Speak Up as a free tool for Colonial to use -- allowing us to conduct this research while keep our financial resources focused on our classrooms. We will receive the results for the District, as well as state and national comparisons, that we can use for our strategic planning, professional development and budgeting in the future.

Students will be given time during the school day to complete the Speak Up survey, and our hope is that all students will have an opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please submit your request to your school principal in writing by November 10.

Watch your weekly E-Friday Folder or E-Newsletter in the next couple of weeks for the link to the parent survey. Please click on the link and take the time to have your voice heard. The survey should take less than 20 minutes to complete and will provide us valuable information that we can use to help plan for the future. The survey will be available online until January 19. We will share the survey results during a School Board Curriculum Committee meeting in February or March.

We are looking forward to Colonial School District's strong participation in Speak Up 2017! Thank you for helping us make sure that we will have the resources and opportunities in place for our students to continue to be "future ready."